Message deletion policy selection

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are provided for deleting messages. The systems and methods include operations for: establishing, by a computing device, a communication session between a plurality of users, the communication session being associated with a first feature of a plurality of features of a messaging application; automatically deleting a first set of messages exchanged in the communication session based on a default deletion policy of the first feature; changing the default deletion policy of the first feature to a second deletion policy; and automatically deleting a second set of messages exchanged in the communication session based on the second deletion policy instead of the default deletion policy.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to the technical field of social networks. In particular, the present embodiments are generally directed to managing message retention and deletion.

BACKGROUND

As the popularity of social networking grows, social networks are expanding their capabilities. To improve ease of use, social networks are integrating more and more functions such that a user may accomplish many or even most of their computer-based tasks within the social network itself. One vision of social networks is that they eventually become a virtual operating system, from which a user seldom finds a need to remove themselves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals may describe similar components in different views. To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number in which that element is first introduced. Some embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example messaging system for exchanging data (e.g., messages and associated content) over a network, according to example embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating data which may be stored in the database of a messaging server system, according to example embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a message generated by a messaging client application for communication, according to example embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example message deletion system, according to example embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating example operations of the message deletion system, according to example embodiments.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show illustrative inputs and outputs of the message deletion system, according to example embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a representative software architecture, which may be used in conjunction with various hardware architectures herein described, according to example embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating components of a machine able to read instructions from a machine-readable medium (e.g., a machine-readable storage medium) and perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein, according to example embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The description that follows includes systems, methods, techniques, instruction sequences, and computing machine program products that embody illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide an understanding of various embodiments. It will be evident, however, to those skilled in the art, that embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In general, well-known instruction instances, protocols, structures, and techniques are not necessarily shown in detail.

Often, users consume media content, and specifically videos, on their mobile device. Such media content is typically exchanged in chat sessions between users and consumes a great deal of storage resources as videos and images grow in resolution and size. As such, managing the storage resources used to maintain the chat sessions has become of great interest. One way in which the storage resources are managed is by automatic deletion of the messages on a periodic basis. While such automatic deletion generally works well, the automatic deletion is performed on a message basis and consumes a great deal of overhead. Namely, the automatic deletion iterates through every message exchanged in the conversation to determine whether that message meets some deletion criteria. Such iterations through the messages, when done for all the chat sessions managed by the system, can be extremely tedious and time consuming and requires dedicated processing resources. Also, the way in which messages are deleted is not generally customizable and a one-size-fits all approach is usually taken on a feature-by-feature basis. This leads to the suboptimal and inefficient handling of message deletion for all users and ends up consuming more storage and processing resources than needed.

The disclosed embodiments improve the efficiency of using the electronic device by providing a system that automatically deletes messages based on deletion policies that can be dynamically changed on-the-fly in real-time. Specifically, the disclosed system establishes a communication session between a plurality of users, the communication session being associated with a first feature of a plurality of features of a messaging application. The disclosed system automatically deletes a first set of messages exchanged in the communication session based on a default deletion policy of the first feature, such as automatically deleting messages 24 hours after the messages are read or 31 days after they are received. The disclosed system changes the default deletion policy of the first feature to a second deletion policy, such as automatically deleting messages immediately after they are read. The disclosed system automatically deletes a second set of messages exchanged in the communication session based on the second deletion policy instead of the default deletion policy. In some cases, the deletion policy can be changed temporarily such that the new deletion policy is applied for a threshold period of time, such as 36 hours, and then the previous default deletion policy is re-activated or re-instated.

This increases the efficiencies of the electronic device by reducing processing times and storage resources needed to accomplish a task. In particular, by allowing users and applications to select or change deletion policies permanently or temporarily, deletion of messages can be performed more efficiently based on the needs of the users or applications. This reduces the device resources (e.g., processor cycles, memory, and power usage) needed to accomplish a task with the device.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example messaging system 100 for exchanging data (e.g., messages and associated content) over a network 106. The messaging system 100 includes multiple client devices 102, each of which hosts a number of applications, including a messaging client application 104 and a third-party application 105. Each messaging client application 104 is communicatively coupled to other instances of the messaging client application 104, the third-party application 105, and a messaging server system 108 via a network 106 (e.g., the Internet).

Accordingly, each messaging client application 104 and third-party application 105 is able to communicate and exchange data with another messaging client application 104 and third-party application(s) 105 and with the messaging server system 108 via the network 106. The data exchanged between messaging client applications 104, third-party applications 105, and the messaging server system 108 includes functions (e.g., commands to invoke functions) and payload data (e.g., text, audio, video, or other multimedia data). Any disclosed communications between the messaging client application 104 and the third-party application(s) 105 can be transmitted directly from the messaging client application 104 to the third-party application(s) 105 and/or indirectly (e.g., via one or more servers) from the messaging client application 104 to the third-party application(s) 105.

The third-party application(s) 105 and the messaging client application 104 are applications that include a set of functions that allow the client device 102 to access a message deletion system 124. The third-party application 105 is an application that is separate and distinct from the messaging client application 104. The third-party application(s) 105 are downloaded and installed by the client device 102 separately from the messaging client application 104. In some implementations, the third-party application(s) 105 are downloaded and installed by the client device 102 before or after the messaging client application 104 is downloaded and installed. The third-party application 105 is an application that is provided by an entity or organization that is different from the entity or organization that provides the messaging client application 104. The third-party application 105 is an application that can be accessed by a client device 102 using separate login credentials than the messaging client application 104. Namely, the third-party application 105 can maintain a first user account and the messaging client application 104 can maintain a second user account. For example, the third-party application 105 can be a social networking application, a dating application, a ride or car sharing application, a shopping application, a trading application, a gaming application, or an imaging application.

The messaging server system 108 provides server-side functionality via the network 106 to a particular messaging client application 104. While certain functions of the messaging system 100 are described herein as being performed by either a messaging client application 104 or by the messaging server system 108, it will be appreciated that the location of certain functionality either within the messaging client application 104 or the messaging server system 108 is a design choice. For example, it may be technically preferable to initially deploy certain technology and functionality within the messaging server system 108, but to later migrate this technology and functionality to the messaging client application 104 where a client device 102 has a sufficient processing capacity.

The messaging server system 108 supports various services and operations that are provided to the messaging client application 104. Such operations include transmitting data to, receiving data from, and processing data generated by the messaging client application 104. This data may include message content, client device information, geolocation information, media annotation and overlays, virtual objects, message content persistence conditions, social network information, and live event information, as examples. Data exchanges within the messaging system 100 are invoked and controlled through functions available via user interfaces (UIs) of the messaging client application 104.

Turning now specifically to the messaging server system 108, an API server 110 is coupled to, and provides a programmatic interface to, an application server 112. The application server 112 is communicatively coupled to a database server 118, which facilitates access to a database 120 in which is stored data associated with messages processed by the application server 112.

Dealing specifically with the API server 110, this server 110 receives and transmits message data (e.g., commands and message payloads) between the client device 102 and the application server 112. Specifically, the API server 110 provides a set of interfaces (e.g., routines and protocols) that can be called or queried by the messaging client application 104 and the third-party application 105 in order to invoke functionality of the application server 112. The API server 110 exposes various functions supported by the application server 112, including account registration; login functionality; the sending of messages, via the application server 112, from a particular messaging client application 104 to another messaging client application 104 or third-party application 105; the sending of media files (e.g., images or video) from a messaging client application 104 to the messaging server application 114, and for possible access by another messaging client application 104 or third-party application 105; the setting of a collection of media data (e.g., story); the retrieval of such collections; the retrieval of a list of friends of a user of a client device 102; the retrieval of messages and content; the adding and deleting of friends to a social graph; the location of friends within a social graph; access to user conversation data; access to avatar information stored on messaging server system 108; and opening an application event (e.g., relating to the messaging client application 104).

The application server 112 hosts a number of applications and subsystems, including a messaging server application 114, an image processing system 116, a social network system 122, and the message deletion system 124. The messaging server application 114 implements a number of message processing technologies and functions, particularly related to the aggregation and other processing of content (e.g., textual and multimedia content) included in messages received from multiple instances of the messaging client application 104. As will be described in further detail, the text and media content from multiple sources may be aggregated into collections of content (e.g., called stories or galleries). These collections are then made available, by the messaging server application 114, to the messaging client application 104. Other processor- and memory-intensive processing of data may also be performed server-side by the messaging server application 114, in view of the hardware requirements for such processing.

The application server 112 also includes an image processing system 116 that is dedicated to performing various image processing operations, typically with respect to images or video received within the payload of a message at the messaging server application 114. A portion of the image processing system 116 may also be implemented by the message deletion system 124.

The social network system 122 supports various social networking functions and services and makes these functions and services available to the messaging server application 114. To this end, the social network system 122 maintains and accesses an entity graph within the database 120. Examples of functions and services supported by the social network system 122 include the identification of other users of the messaging system 100 with which a particular user has relationships or is “following” and also the identification of other entities and interests of a particular user. Such other users may be referred to as the user's friends. Social network system 122 may access location information associated with each of the user's friends to determine where they live or are currently located geographically. Social network system 122 may maintain a location profile for each of the user's friends indicating the geographical location where the user's friends live.

The message deletion system 124 manages storage and retention policies for messages exchanged in a communication session. For example, the message deletion system 124 may perform operations for implementing a first deletion policy, such as for a 24-hour retention feature. The message deletion system 124 determine when a given message is read by a recipient in a communication session and deletes messages according to the first deletion policy based on the read time. Specifically, in response to determining that a message has been read by a recipient, the message deletion system 124 starts a timer for deleting the given message from the communication session. In some cases, the message deletion system 124 deletes the given message and any message received prior to the given message in the communication session automatically when the timer reaches a threshold amount of time (e.g., after 24 hours). The message deletion system 124 stores messages that are received in the conversation session and automatically deletes the messages if they are not read within 31 days from when they are received. This way, the message deletion system 124 allows users in a conversation session to exchange messages with each other but may only allow the users to see the messages in the conversation session for 24 hours after one or all of the users in the conversation session read the latest message or for 31 days after the messages are received.

In some embodiments, to implement the first deletion policy, the message deletion system 124 receives a plurality of messages directed to a second user from a first user in a conversation session. The message deletion system 124 stores the messages with an unread status indicator and also stores a timestamp indicating when each message was received from the first user. The second user may launch the messaging application to access the conversation session. In response, the messaging application of the second user's device sends a request to the message deletion system 124 to receive messages that follow a certain timestamp. For example, the second user's device determines when the last time the messaging application was opened by the second user. The second user's device requests that the message deletion system 124 send to the second user's device any message that was sent by the first user after that last time the messaging application was opened by the second user. After the second user's device receives the messages sent by the first user, the messages are displayed in the conversation session on the messaging application to the second user. In some cases, only the last message that was sent by the first user is shown and the second user may scroll up to view previous messages sent by the first user.

According to the operations of the first deletion policy, once the last message is displayed to the second user, the second user's device records the read time of the last message. The second user's device sends a notification to the message deletion system 124 indicating the read time for the last message. In response to receiving the notification, the message deletion system 124 stores the read time for all of the messages stored in the message deletion system 124 that are marked as unread (e.g., any message the does not currently have a read time stored). In this way, when the last message is read by the second user and regardless of whether the second user also reads prior messages that the second user's device receives, all the messages currently delivered to the second user are marked as read with the same read time as the latest message the second user has viewed in the conversation session on the messaging application.

To implement the first deletion policy, the server compares the current time to the read time of each message the message deletion system 124 stores. When the difference between the current time and the read time corresponds to a threshold amount of time (e.g., reaches 24 hours), the message deletion system 124 automatically deletes the messages associated with that particular read time. In some embodiments, the message deletion system 124 compares the current time only to the oldest read time of the messages stored by the message deletion system 124. This way, the sever need not compare the current time to all of the read times continuously. Once the difference between the read time of the oldest read message and the current time corresponds to the threshold amount of time, the message deletion system 124 traverses or iterates through other messages to identify a set of messages associated with the same read time. The message deletion system 124 then automatically deletes all the messages that are associated with the same read time.

In some embodiments, to implement the first deletion policy, the message deletion system 124 starts a timer when a given message is read by a user of the conversation session. When the timer reaches the threshold amount of time (e.g., 24 hours), the message deletion system 124 automatically deletes that message and any message received prior to the given message.

In some embodiments, certain messages are marked as to be saved based on specific input from a user or because the messages meet some criteria. In such cases, the message deletion system 124 avoids automatically deleting such messages even though the elapsed time since they have been read exceeds the threshold amount time (e.g., messages that would automatically be deleted after 24 hours from when they are read, are retained if the messages are marked to be saved).

In some embodiments, to implement the first deletion policy, the message deletion system 124 compares the oldest receive time of the messages exchanged in the conversation session to the current time. In some cases, such messages are those that are marked as unread. When a difference between the oldest receive time and the current time exceeds another threshold amount of time (e.g., exceeds 31 days), the message deletion system 124 automatically deletes such messages that are unread. When messages are deleted, none of the users or participants in the communication session (e.g., in the chat session) can view the contents of the messages.

In some embodiments, the message deletion system 124 receives an instruction to change the deletion policy that is currently being implemented. This instruction may be received from a participant or user in the communication session, from another application, from an operator, or when a given condition is met or set of conditions are met. For example, a plurality of users may be engaged in a communications session for a group chat feature of the messaging client application 104. The group chat feature may employ a default deletion policy, such as the first deletion policy, in which messages are automatically deleted 24 hours after they are read or 31 days after they are received, whichever is earlier.

During the group chat feature of the communications session, a client device 102 of a first user receives a user request to change the deletion policy to a second deletion policy. The second deletion policy deletes message immediately after the messages are read by all the participants or some of the participants of the communications session. In some examples, the client device 102 of the first user may present a deletion policies menu that includes one or more features of the messaging client application 104 and the corresponding deletion policies of each feature. The deletion policies menu may include a custom deletion policies feature which allows the first user to specify deletion parameters for automatically deleting messages in the communication session. In response to receiving the user request to change the deletion policy, the client device 102 communicates the selected second deletion policy to the message deletion system 124. The message deletion system 124 accesses a set of operations that correspond to the selected second deletion policy. The message deletion system 124 replaces the current default deletion policy for the communication session (e.g., the group chat session) with the selected second deletion policy. As an example, the message deletion system 124 replaces the deletion operations of the default deletion policy of the communication session with the deletion operations for the selected second deletion policy.

In some cases, the message deletion system 124 communicates the changes to the deletion policy to each participant of the communications session. For example, the message deletion system 124 informs a second client device 102 of a second user of the group chat about the change to the deletion policy. In response, the messaging client application 104 on the second client device 102 may begin executing operations of the second deletion policy instead of the default deletion policy. As an example, message deletion system 124 automatically deletes messages exchanged in the communication session immediately (in response to) the messages being read without waiting a threshold period of time. As such, rather than employing the default deletion policy of deleting messages 24 hours after they are read or 31 days after they are received, the message deletion system 124 automatically deletes the messages immediately after they are read.

In some cases, to implement this new policy additional or alternate notifications may be sent by the client devices 102 of the users engaged in the communications session that were not otherwise needed to be sent for implementing the default deletion policy. For example, the default deletion policy may include operations that delete messages 24 hours after they are received regardless of whether they are read or unread. Such a default deletion policy does not require a given client device to inform another client device about the read or unread status of a message. This is because the message deletion does not depend on the read status of the message. However, if the default deletion policy is changed to delete messages based on a read time (e.g., 24 hours after they are read), a first client device of a recipient of a message may now be configured to transmit a notification to the message deletion system 124 or another client device of a second user (e.g., the sender of the message) indicating the read time of the message. In this way, the first and second client devices (or the message deletion system 124) can automatically delete the message based on the read time (e.g., 24 hours after the message is read).

As another example, the default deletion policy includes operations that delete messages 24 hours after they are read. Such a default deletion policy may require a given client device to inform another client device about the read time of a message. This is because the message deletion depends on the read time of the message. However, if the default deletion policy is changed to delete messages based on a sent time (e.g., 24 hours after they are sent), a first client device of a recipient of a message may now no longer transmit a notification to the message deletion system 124 or another client device of a second user (e.g., the sender of the message) indicating the read time of the message. This is because the sent time is known to all recipients of the message in the communication session and deletion of messages can be performed automatically without receiving further information about when the messages are read. In this example, the default deletion policy includes operations that need to be performed, such as exchanging read notifications, that do not need to be performed by the new deletion policy.

In some cases, the new deletion policy is temporarily activated. Specifically, the request to change the deletion policy may specify that the new deletion policy be activated only for 36 hours or some other specified time interval. In some cases, the new deletion policy is temporarily activated for an automatically determined time interval, such that whenever a deletion policy is changed, such change is made for the specified time interval without the request to change the interval indicating that the change be temporary. In such cases, the message deletion system 124 switches or replaces the default deletion policy of the communication session to the newly selected deletion policy only for the specified time interval. Namely, the message deletion system 124 automatically deletes messages exchanged in the communications session based on the newly selected deletion policy.

The message deletion system 124 may store a deletion policy timestamp indicating when the newly selected deletion policy has been changed. In this example, the message deletion system 124 compares the timestamp to a current time to determine the amount of time the newly selected deletion policy has been activated. The message deletion system 124 may compare the amount of time the newly selected deletion policy has been activated to the specified time interval (e.g., the time interval indicated for temporary activation of a new deletion policy). When the amount of time the newly selected deletion policy has been activated matches the specified time interval, the message deletion system 124 automatically re-activates the newly selected deletion policy with the default deletion policy of the feature of the communication session. Namely, the message deletion system 124 replaces the deletion operations currently being used to delete messages with the default deletion operations for the feature of the communication session.

As an example, a user of a client device 102 may be engaged in a group chat communications session with other users. The group chat communications session may have a default deletion policy of deleting messages after 24 hours of when they are sent. The client device 102 receives a request to change the default deletion policy of the group chat communications session to the deletion policy of a 24-hour retention feature. The client device 102 instructs the message deletion system 124 to change the deletion policy to the 24-hour retention feature default deletion policy. In response to receiving the instructions, the message deletion system 124 replaces the default deletion policy of the group chat communications session with the default deletion policy of the 24-hour retention feature. The 24-hour retention feature may include operations for deletion messages 24 hours after they are read or 31 days after they are received, whichever comes first. As such, any message that is exchanged in the group chat after the deletion policy is changed, is automatically deleted by the message deletion system 124 24 hours after the message is read or 31 days after the message is received. The new deletion policy may only be activated for a temporary period of time (e.g., for 36 hours). As such, after 36 hours of deleting messages exchanged in the group chat based on the new deletion policy, the message deletion system 124 re-activates the default deletion policy of the group chat feature. Namely, the message deletion system 124 stops deleting messages based on the 24-hour retention feature and returns to deleting messages 24 hours after they are sent (e.g., the default deletion policy of the group chat feature).

The application server 112 is communicatively coupled to a database server 118, which facilitates access to a database 120 in which is stored data associated with messages processed by the messaging server application 114. Database 120 may be a third-party database. For example, the application server 112 may be associated with a first entity, and the database 120 or a portion of the database 120 may be associated with and hosted by a second, different entity. In some implementations, database 120 stores user data that the first entity collects about various each of the users of a service provided by the first entity. For example, the user data includes user names, passwords, addresses, friends, activity information, preferences, videos or content consumed by the user, and so forth.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram 200 illustrating data, which may be stored in the database 120 of the messaging server system 108, according to certain example embodiments. While the content of the database 120 is shown to comprise a number of tables, it will be appreciated that the data could be stored in other types of data structures (e.g., as an object-oriented database).

The database 120 includes message data stored within a message table 214. An entity table 202 stores entity data, including an entity graph 204. Entities for which records are maintained within the entity table 202 may include individuals, corporate entities, organizations, objects, places, events, and so forth. Regardless of type, any entity regarding which the messaging server system 108 stores data may be a recognized entity. Each entity is provided with a unique identifier, as well as an entity type identifier (not shown).

The entity graph 204 stores information regarding relationships and associations between entities. Such relationships may be social, professional (e.g., work at a common corporation or organization), interest-based, or activity-based, merely for example.

Message table 214 may store a collection of conversations between a user and one or more friends or entities. Message table 214 may include various attributes of each conversation, such as the list of participants, the size of the conversation (e.g., number of users and/or number of messages), the chat color of the conversation, a unique identifier for the conversation, and any other conversation related feature(s).

The database 120 also stores annotation data, in the example form of filters, in an annotation table 212. Database 120 also stores annotated content received in the annotation table 212. Filters for which data is stored within the annotation table 212 are associated with and applied to videos (for which data is stored in a video table 210) and/or images (for which data is stored in an image table 208). Filters, in one example, are overlays that are displayed as overlaid on an image or video during presentation to a recipient user. Filters may be of various types, including user-selected filters from a gallery of filters presented to a sending user by the messaging client application 104 when the sending user is composing a message. Other types of filters include geolocation filters (also known as geo-filters), which may be presented to a sending user based on geographic location. For example, geolocation filters specific to a neighborhood or special location may be presented within a UI by the messaging client application 104, based on geolocation information determined by a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit of the client device 102. Another type of filter is a data filter, which may be selectively presented to a sending user by the messaging client application 104, based on other inputs or information gathered by the client device 102 during the message creation process. Examples of data filters include current temperature at a specific location, a current speed at which a sending user is traveling, battery life for a client device 102, or the current time.

Other annotation data that may be stored within the image table 208 is so-called “lens” data. A “lens” may be a real-time special effect and sound that may be added to an image or a video.

As mentioned above, the video table 210 stores video data which, in one embodiment, is associated with messages for which records are maintained within the message table 214. Similarly, the image table 208 stores image data associated with messages for which message data is stored in the entity table 202. The entity table 202 may associate various annotations from the annotation table 212 with various images and videos stored in the image table 208 and the video table 210.

Deletion policies data 207 stores various information about message deletion policies. Specifically, the deletion policies data 207 stores a set of operations for implementing different deletion policies and associates each deletion policy with a given feature of the messaging application. Deletion policies data 207 may also store information for each message exchanged in a communication session that is used to determine whether or not to delete the message according to the active deletion policies. Such information includes whether the messages have been read or unread, the send time, the read time, the receive time, and so forth. Based on the deletion policies data 207, the message deletion system 124 determines whether to automatically delete certain messages in a communication session and what operations need to be performed to automatically delete the messages.

As an example, the deletion policies data 207 stores a first deletion policy associated with a first feature of the messaging client application 104 (e.g., a group chat feature). The first deletion policy includes instructions for performing deletion operations including automatically deleting a message exchanged in a communications session within a threshold time period (e.g., 24 hours) from when the message was sent. The operations include storing a send timestamp for each message that is exchanged, comparing the sent timestamp to the current time to measure the elapsed time since the message was sent, and deleting the message if the elapsed time exceeds the threshold time period.

As another example, the deletion policies data 207 stores a second deletion policy associated with a second feature of the messaging client application 104 (e.g., a delete upon read feature or secret message feature). The second deletion policy includes instructions for performing deletion operations including automatically deleting a message exchanged in a communications session immediately in response to detecting that the message was read. The operations include detecting a message has been viewed or read by a given recipient device, sending a read notification to every participant in the communication session and/or the sender of the message, and deleting the message from the communication session in response to receiving a read notification.

As another example, the deletion policies data 207 stores a third deletion policy associated with a third feature of the messaging client application 104 (e.g., a 24-hour retention feature). The third deletion policy includes instructions for performing deletion operations including automatically deleting a message exchanged in a communications session after a first threshold time period (e.g., 24 hours) of when the message was read or after a second threshold time period (e.g., 31 days) from when the message was received. The operations include receiving a message at a recipient device, storing a receive timestamp for the message, detecting that the message has been viewed or read by the recipient device, storing a read time for the message, sending the read and receive timestamps to every participant in the communication session and/or the sender of the message, and deleting the message from the communication session for every client device 102 in response to read time stamp exceeding the first threshold time period or in response to the receive timestamp exceeding the second threshold time period.

Deletion policies data 207 may store custom deletion policies. The custom deletion policies may be specified by a user or operator or application. The custom deletion policies may be set based on receive timestamps, read timestamps, send timestamps, and/or any combination thereof. The custom deletion policies include a set of instructions for instructing devices 102 to perform operations for notifying each other about the various timestamps and coordinating deletion of the messages according to the deletion policies data 207.

A story table 206 stores data regarding collections of messages and associated image, video, or audio data, which are compiled into a collection (e.g., a story or a gallery). The creation of a particular collection may be initiated by a particular user (e.g., each user for which a record is maintained in the entity table 202). A user may create a “personal story” in the form of a collection of content that has been created and sent/broadcast by that user. To this end, the UI of the messaging client application 104 may include an icon that is user-selectable to enable a sending user to add specific content to his or her personal story.

A collection may also constitute a “live story.” which is a collection of content from multiple users that is created manually, automatically, or using a combination of manual and automatic techniques. For example, a “live story” may constitute a curated stream of user-submitted content from various locations and events. Users whose client devices 102 have location services enabled and are at a common location event at a particular time may, for example, be presented with an option, via a UI of the messaging client application 104, to contribute content to a particular live story. The live story may be identified to the user by the messaging client application 104 based on his or her location. The end result is a “live story” told from a community perspective.

A further type of content collection is known as a “location story,” which enables a user whose client device 102 is located within a specific geographic location (e.g., on a college or university campus) to contribute to a particular collection. In some embodiments, a contribution to a location story may require a second degree of authentication to verify that the end user belongs to a specific organization or other entity (e.g., is a student on the university campus).

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a message 300, according to some embodiments, generated by a messaging client application 104 for communication to a further messaging client application 104 or the messaging server application 114. The content of a particular message 300 is used to populate the message table 214 stored within the database 120, accessible by the messaging server application 114. Similarly, the content of a message 300 is stored in memory as “in-transit” or “in-flight” data of the client device 102 or the application server 112. The message 300 is shown to include the following components:

-   -   A message identifier 302: a unique identifier that identifies         the message 300.     -   A message text payload 304: text, to be generated by a user via         a UI of the client device 102 and that is included in the         message 300.     -   A message image payload 306: image data, captured by a camera         component of a client device 102 or retrieved from memory of a         client device 102, and that is included in the message 300.     -   A message video payload 308: video data, captured by a camera         component or retrieved from a memory component of the client         device 102 and that is included in the message 300.     -   A message audio payload 310: audio data, captured by a         microphone or retrieved from the memory component of the client         device 102, and that is included in the message 300.     -   Message annotations 312: annotation data (e.g., filters,         stickers, or other enhancements) that represents annotations to         be applied to message image payload 306, message video payload         308, or message audio payload 310 of the message 300.     -   A message duration parameter 314: parameter value indicating, in         seconds, the amount of time for which content of the message         (e.g., the message image payload 306, message video payload 308,         message audio payload 310) is to be presented or made accessible         to a user via the messaging client application 104.     -   A message geolocation parameter 316: geolocation data (e.g.,         latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates) associated with the         content payload of the message. Multiple message geolocation         parameter 316 values may be included in the payload, with each         of these parameter values being associated with respect to         content items included in the content (e.g., a specific image         within the message image payload 306, or a specific video in the         message video payload 308).     -   A message story identifier 318: identifier value identifying one         or more content collections (e.g., “stories”) with which a         particular content item in the message image payload 306 of the         message 300 is associated. For example, multiple images within         the message image payload 306 may each be associated with         multiple content collections using identifier values.     -   A message tag 320: each message 300 may be tagged with multiple         tags, each of which is indicative of the subject matter of         content included in the message payload. For example, where a         particular image included in the message image payload 306         depicts an animal (e.g., a lion), a tag value may be included         within the message tag 320 that is indicative of the relevant         animal. Tag values may be generated manually, based on user         input, or may be automatically generated using, for example,         image recognition.     -   A message sender identifier 322: an identifier (e.g., a         messaging system identifier, email address, or device         identifier) indicative of a user of the client device 102 on         which the message 300 was generated and from which the message         300 was sent.     -   A message receiver identifier 324: an identifier (e.g., a         messaging system identifier, email address, or device         identifier) indicative of user(s) of the client device 102 to         which the message 300 is addressed. In the case of a         conversation between multiple users, the identifier may indicate         each user involved in the conversation.

The contents (e.g., values) of the various components of message 300 may be pointers to locations in tables within which content data values are stored. For example, an image value in the message image payload 306 may be a pointer to (or address of) a location within an image table 208. Similarly, values within the message video payload 308 may point to data stored within a video table 210, values stored within the message annotations 312 may point to data stored in an annotation table 212, values stored within the message story identifier 318 may point to data stored in a story table 206, and values stored within the message sender identifier 322 and the message receiver identifier 324 may point to user records stored within an entity table 202.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example message deletion system 124, according to example embodiments. Message deletion system 124 includes a communication session module 414, a deletion policy selection module 416, and a message deletion module 418. The communication session module 414 enables users to engage in a communication session to exchange messages with each other. In some cases, the communication session includes a group of three or more users in which case any message sent by one user is viewable by the other two users in the group. In some cases, the communication session includes only two users where one user sends messages to another user and vice versa.

After initiating a communication session using the communication session module 414, messages are transferred between users of the communication session using the communication session module 414. For example, the communication session module 414 receives a message from a first user in the communication session and marks the message for transmission to a second user in the communication session. The communication session module 414 stores the message along with various information indicating the recipient, the communication session identifier, and the receive time stamp. When the second user logs into the message application, the communication session module 414 receives an identifier of the second user and determines whether any messages that have not been delivered yet to the second user and that are intended for the second user to receive. In some cases, the communication session module 414 receives a last update timestamp from the second user. The communication session module 414 searches the receive time of all the messages that are intended for receipt by the second user. The communication session module 414 selects those messages that have a receive time that is later than the last update timestamp. The communication session module 414 then sends all of the selected messages to the user device of the second user for presentation in the communication session of the message client application 104.

The second user may open the communication session in the messaging client application 104. Once a message is displayed in the communication session for the second user, the messaging client application 104 stores a read time for the message that is displayed.

The deletion policy selection module 416 retrieves the deletion policy for the feature of the communication session being implemented by the communication session module 414. In an example, the deletion policy selection module 416 access the deletion policies data 207 and retrieves the default deletion policy of the feature of the communication session. The deletion policy selection module 416 provides the operations specified in the retrieved deletion policy to the communication session module 414 and the message deletion module 418. The communication session module 414 stores and sends various notifications indicating when messages are read, received, and/or sent or exchanged between various users. The communication session module 414 provides such information to the message deletion module 418.

The message deletion module 418 implements a deletion policy for the communication session based on the deletion policies data 207 for a deletion policy selected by the deletion policy selection module 416. The message deletion module 418 compares the read timestamp, receive timestamp, and/or sent timestamp of each message or a collection of messages in the communication session to the current time. Based on the comparison, the message deletion module 418 automatically deletes the messages according to the active deletion policy.

For example, the storage of a read time for one or more messages in a communication session, initiates a deletion timer for the one or more messages. Specifically, the message deletion module 418 automatically deletes messages that have been read 24 hours after they are read. Namely, once the deletion timer reaches a specified threshold time period (e.g., 24 hours), the message deletion module 418 deletes the messages and removes them from the communication session. As an example, message deletion module 418 compares the current time to the read time of each message of the communication session. When the difference between the current time and the read time corresponds to a threshold amount of time (e.g., reaches 24 hours), the message deletion module 418 automatically deletes the messages associated with that particular read time.

In some embodiments, the message deletion module 418 compares the current time only to the oldest read time of the messages that are in the communication session. This way, the message deletion module 418 need not compare the current time to all of the read times continuously. Once the difference between the read time of the oldest read message and the current time corresponds to the threshold amount of time, the message deletion module 418 traverses or iterates through other messages to identify a set of messages associated with the same read time. The message deletion module 418 then automatically deletes all the messages that are associated with the same read time.

In some embodiments, certain messages are marked as to be saved based on specific input from a user or because the messages meet some criteria. In such cases, the message deletion module 418 avoids automatically deleting such messages even though the elapsed time since they have been read exceeds the threshold amount time (e.g., messages that would automatically be deleted after 24 hours from when they are read, are retained if the messages are marked to be saved).

In some embodiments, the message deletion module 418 compares the oldest receive time of the messages exchanged in the communication session to the current time. In some cases, such messages are those that are marked as unread. When a difference between the oldest receive time and the current time exceeds another threshold amount of time (e.g., exceeds 31 days), the message deletion module 418 automatically deletes such messages that are unread. When messages are deleted, none of the users or participants in the communication session (e.g., in the chat session) can view the contents of the messages. As such, the message deletion module 418 is configured to delete all prior messages received in a communication session before a given message 24-hours after only the given message has been read by one or all participants in the communication session. Namely, a user need not read all of the messages in the communication session to trigger the 24-hour deletion. The message deletion module 418 is also configured to delete any message that has been received in the communication session more than 31 days ago regardless of whether the message was read or not.

In some embodiments, the deletion policy selection module 416 changes the current deletion policy being used in the communication session to a second deletion policy (e.g., a deletion policy associated with a different feature of the message client application 104). In such cases, the deletion policy selection module 416 retrieves the deletion operations stored in the deletion policies data 207 for the second deletion policy and replaces the instructions for deletion that are currently implemented by the message deletion module 418 and the communication session module 414 with the retrieved deletion operations. In some cases, the second deletion policy is implemented temporarily (e.g., for only 36 hours). In such cases, the deletion policy selection module 416 stores a timestamp indicating when the deletion policy has been changed for a given feature. When the difference between the timestamp and the current time reaches a given threshold (e.g., 36 hours), the deletion policy selection module 416 automatically reverts back to the default deletion policy of the feature that was originally in place. The given threshold may be user specified, preconfigured, dynamically adjusted, or set by an operator.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating example operations of the message deletion system 124 in performing process 500, according to example embodiments. The process 500 may be embodied in computer-readable instructions for execution by one or more processors such that the operations of the process 500 may be performed in part or in whole by the functional components of the messaging server system 108 and/or third-party application 105; accordingly, the process 500 is described below by way of example with reference thereto. However, in other embodiments, at least some of the operations of the process 500 may be deployed on various other hardware configurations. The process 500 is therefore not intended to be limited to the messaging server system 108 and can be implemented in whole, or in part, by any other component. Some or all of the operations of process 500 can be in parallel, out of order, or entirely omitted.

At operation 501, the message deletion system 124 establishes a communication session between a plurality of users, the communication session being associated with a first feature of a plurality of features of a messaging application. For example, the communication session module 414 receives input from a first user operating a first client device 102 to send a message to one or more other users. In response, the communication session module 414 establishes a chat session that provides a display to the first user and the one or more other users for enabling the users to see messages exchanged between the users and send messages to each other.

At operation 502, the message deletion system 124 automatically deletes a first set of messages exchanged in the communication session based on a default deletion policy of the first feature. For example, the message deletion system 124 deletes the first set of messages immediately after the messages are read by default.

At operation 503, the message deletion system 124 changes the default deletion policy of the first feature to a second deletion policy. For example, the message deletion system 124 retrieves the operations for performing the second deletion policy, such as from deletion policies data 207, and replaces the default deletion policy operations with the retrieved operations.

At operation 504, the message deletion system 124 automatically deletes a second set of messages exchanged in the communication session based on the second deletion policy instead of the default deletion policy. For example, the message deletion system 124 automatically deletes the messages 24-hours after they are read instead of immediately after the messages are read.

FIG. 6 includes illustrative graphical user interface of inputs and outputs of the message deletion system 124, according to example embodiments. The message deletion system 124 causes presentation of a graphical user interface 600 on a messaging client application 104. The graphical user interface 600 includes a display of a first set of messages 612 that are part of a communication session between multiple users (e.g., John, Mark and Jennifer). The graphical user interface 600 is presented to given user 714 (e.g., Jennifer). In some cases, once the given user 714 logs in and downloads the messages that are part of the communication session (e.g., at 9:41 AM), the latest message is automatically presented to the given user 714. The given user 714 can scroll up to view earlier messages.

In some embodiments, the given user 714 selects an option (e.g., an on-screen option) to modify a deletion policy of the communication session. In response to receiving selection of the option, the message deletion system 124 causes presentation of a notification 620 to the given user 714. The notification 620 indicates the default deletion policy currently active (e.g., messages in the group chat are deleted automatically 24 hours after they are sent). In this case, the messages presented in the communication session and all prior messages to those presented in the communication session will be automatically deleted 24 hours after their corresponding send timestamp.

The notification 620 includes a plurality of deletion policy options. Each deletion policy option identifies a default deletion policy associated with a particular different feature of the messaging client application 104. An option can also be included in the notification 620 that allows the user to specify and customize parameters of a new deletion policy. The option may allow the user to specify conditions under which messages are deleted automatically and/or the amount of time for which the new deletion policy is activated if the deletion policy is temporarily applied or temporarily replaces the default deletion policy. After the given user 714 selects a new deletion policy from the plurality of deletion policy options (e.g., including default deletion policies of other features), the messaging client application 104 of the given user 714 informs the message deletion system 124 about the deletion policy the user selects.

As shown in the graphical user interface 710 illustrated in FIG. 7, a second set of messages 712 are received in the communication session after the first set of messages 612. The messaging client application 104 generates and displays a notification 720 indicating that the second set of messages 712 will be deleted according to the new deletion policy the user selected in the notification 620. For example, the notification 720 may indicate that the new deletion policy that is applied will delete the second set of messages 712 immediately when they after they are read. As such, the messaging client application 104 applies the default deletion policy to the first set of messages 612 (deleting them 24 hours after they are sent) and applies the newly selected deletion policy to the second set of messages 712 (deleting them in response to the messages being viewed or read). After a specified period of time (e.g., after 36 hours), the message deletion system 124 re-activates the default deletion policy that was active before being modified to the new deletion policy. A third set of messages (not shown) received and exchanged in the communication session after the second set of messages 712 are deleted by the message deletion system 124 using the re-activated default deletion policy. As an example, the third set of messages are deleted 24 hours after they are sent instead of immediately in response to the messages being viewed or read.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example software architecture 806, which may be used in conjunction with various hardware architectures herein described. FIG. 8 is a non-limiting example of a software architecture and it will be appreciated that many other architectures may be implemented to facilitate the functionality described herein. The software architecture 806 may execute on hardware such as machine 900 of FIG. 9 that includes, among other things, processors 904, memory 914, and input/output (I/O) components 918. A representative hardware layer 852 is illustrated and can represent, for example, the machine 900 of FIG. 9. The representative hardware layer 852 includes a processing unit 854 having associated executable instructions 804. Executable instructions 804 represent the executable instructions of the software architecture 806, including implementation of the methods, components, and so forth described herein. The hardware layer 852 also includes memory and/or storage modules memory/storage 856, which also have executable instructions 804. The hardware layer 852 may also comprise other hardware 858.

In the example architecture of FIG. 8, the software architecture 806 may be conceptualized as a stack of layers where each layer provides particular functionality. For example, the software architecture 806 may include layers such as an operating system 802, libraries 820, frameworks/middleware 818, applications 816, and a presentation layer 814. Operationally, the applications 816 and/or other components within the layers may invoke API calls 808 through the software stack and receive messages 812 in response to the API calls 808. The layers illustrated are representative in nature and not all software architectures have all layers. For example, some mobile or special purpose operating systems may not provide a frameworks/middleware 818, while others may provide such a layer. Other software architectures may include additional or different layers.

The operating system 802 may manage hardware resources and provide common services. The operating system 802 may include, for example, a kernel 822, services 824, and drivers 826. The kernel 822 may act as an abstraction layer between the hardware and the other software layers. For example, the kernel 822 may be responsible for memory management, processor management (e.g., scheduling), component management, networking, security settings, and so on. The services 824 may provide other common services for the other software layers. The drivers 826 are responsible for controlling or interfacing with the underlying hardware. For instance, the drivers 826 include display drivers, camera drivers, Bluetooth® drivers, flash memory drivers, serial communication drivers (e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB) drivers), Wi-Fi® drivers, audio drivers, power management drivers, and so forth depending on the hardware configuration.

The libraries 820 provide a common infrastructure that is used by the applications 816 and/or other components and/or layers. The libraries 820 provide functionality that allows other software components to perform tasks in an easier fashion than to interface directly with the underlying operating system 802 functionality (e.g., kernel 822, services 824 and/or drivers 826). The libraries 820 may include system libraries 844 (e.g., C standard library) that may provide functions such as memory allocation functions, string manipulation functions, mathematical functions, and the like. In addition, the libraries 820 may include API libraries 846 such as media libraries (e.g., libraries to support presentation and manipulation of various media format such as MPEG4, H.264, MP3, AAC, AMR, JPG, PNG), graphics libraries (e.g., an OpenGL framework that may be used to render two-dimensional and three-dimensional in a graphic content on a display), database libraries (e.g., SQLite that may provide various relational database functions), web libraries (e.g., WebKit that may provide web browsing functionality), and the like. The libraries 820 may also include a wide variety of other libraries 848 to provide many other APIs to the applications 816 and other software components/modules.

The frameworks/middleware 818 (also sometimes referred to as middleware) provide a higher-level common infrastructure that may be used by the applications 816 and/or other software components/modules. For example, the frameworks/middleware 818 may provide various graphical user interface functions, high-level resource management, high-level location services, and so forth. The frameworks/middleware 818 may provide a broad spectrum of other APIs that may be utilized by the applications 816 and/or other software components/modules, some of which may be specific to a particular operating system 802 or platform.

The applications 816 include built-in applications 838 and/or third-party applications 840. Examples of representative built-in applications 838 may include, but are not limited to, a contacts application, a browser application, a book reader application, a location application, a media application, a messaging application, and/or a game application. Third-party applications 840 may include an application developed using the ANDROID™ or IOS™ software development kit (SDK) by an entity other than the vendor of the particular platform, and may be mobile software running on a mobile operating system such as IOS™. ANDROID™, WINDOWS® Phone, or other mobile operating systems. The third-party applications 840 may invoke the API calls 808 provided by the mobile operating system (such as operating system 802) to facilitate functionality described herein.

The applications 816 may use built-in operating system functions (e.g., kernel 822, services 824, and/or drivers 826), libraries 820, and frameworks/middleware 818 to create UIs to interact with users of the system. Alternatively, or additionally, in some systems, interactions with a user may occur through a presentation layer, such as presentation layer 814. In these systems, the application/component “logic” can be separated from the aspects of the application/component that interact with a user.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating components of a machine 900, according to some example embodiments, able to read instructions from a machine-readable medium (e.g., a machine-readable storage medium) and perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. Specifically, FIG. 9 shows a diagrammatic representation of the machine 900 in the example form of a computer system, within which instructions 910 (e.g., software, a program, an application, an applet, an app, or other executable code) for causing the machine 900 to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein may be executed. As such, the instructions 910 may be used to implement modules or components described herein. The instructions 910 transform the general, non-programmed machine 900 into a particular machine 900 programmed to carry out the described and illustrated functions in the manner described. In alternative embodiments, the machine 900 operates as a standalone device or may be coupled (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine 900 may operate in the capacity of a server machine or a client machine in a server-client network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine 900 may comprise, but not be limited to, a server computer, a client computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a netbook, a set-top box (STB), a personal digital assistant (PDA), an entertainment media system, a cellular telephone, a smart phone, a mobile device, a wearable device (e.g., a smart watch), a smart home device (e.g., a smart appliance), other smart devices, a web appliance, a network router, a network switch, a network bridge, or any machine capable of executing the instructions 910, sequentially or otherwise, that specify actions to be taken by machine 900. Further, while only a single machine 900 is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include a collection of machines that individually or jointly execute the instructions 910 to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The machine 900 may include processors 904, memory/storage 906, and I/O components 918, which may be configured to communicate with each other such as via a bus 902. In an example embodiment, the processors 904 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processor, a complex instruction set computing (CISC) processor, a graphics processing unit (GPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a radio-frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), another processor, or any suitable combination thereof) may include, for example, a processor 908 and a processor 912 that may execute the instructions 910. The term “processor” is intended to include multi-core processors 904 that may comprise two or more independent processors (sometimes referred to as “cores”) that may execute instructions 910 contemporaneously. Although FIG. 9 shows multiple processors 904, the machine 900 may include a single processor 908 with a single core, a single processor 908 with multiple cores (e.g., a multi-core processor), multiple processors 908, 912 with a single core, multiple processors 908, 912 with multiple cores, or any combination thereof.

The memory/storage 906 may include a memory 914, such as a main memory, or other memory storage, and a storage unit 916, both accessible to the processors 904 such as via the bus 902. The storage unit 916 and memory 914 store the instructions 910 embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein. The instructions 910 may also reside, completely or partially, within the memory 914, within the storage unit 916, within at least one of the processors 904 (e.g., within the processor's cache memory), or any suitable combination thereof, during execution thereof by the machine 900. Accordingly, the memory 914, the storage unit 916, and the memory of processors 904 are examples of machine-readable media.

The I/O components 918 may include a wide variety of components to receive input, provide output, produce output, transmit information, exchange information, capture measurements, and so on. The specific I/O components 918 that are included in a particular machine 900 will depend on the type of machine. For example, portable machines such as mobile phones will likely include a touch input device or other such input mechanisms, while a headless server machine will likely not include such a touch input device. It will be appreciated that the I/O components 918 may include many other components that are not shown in FIG. 9. The I/O components 918 are grouped according to functionality merely for simplifying the following discussion and the grouping is in no way limiting. In various example embodiments, the I/O components 918 may include output components 926 and input components 928. The output components 926 may include visual components (e.g., a display such as a plasma display panel (PDP), a light emitting diode (LED) display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a projector, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)), acoustic components (e.g., speakers), haptic components (e.g., a vibratory motor, resistance mechanisms), other signal generators, and so forth. The input components 928 may include alphanumeric input components (e.g., a keyboard, a touch screen configured to receive alphanumeric input, a photo-optical keyboard, or other alphanumeric input components), point-based input components (e.g., a mouse, a touchpad, a trackball, a joystick, a motion sensor, or other pointing instrument), tactile input components (e.g., a physical button, a touch screen that provides location and/or force of touches or touch gestures, or other tactile input components), audio input components (e.g., a microphone), and the like.

In further example embodiments, the I/O components 918 may include biometric components 939, motion components 934, environmental components 936, or position components 938 among a wide array of other components. For example, the biometric components 939 may include components to detect expressions (e.g., hand expressions, facial expressions, vocal expressions, body gestures, or eye tracking), measure biosignals (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, perspiration, or brain waves), identify a person (e.g., voice identification, retinal identification, facial identification, fingerprint identification, or electroencephalogram based identification), and the like. The motion components 934 may include acceleration sensor components (e.g., accelerometer), gravitation sensor components, rotation sensor components (e.g., gyroscope), and so forth. The environmental components 936 may include, for example, illumination sensor components (e.g., photometer), temperature sensor components (e.g., one or more thermometer that detect ambient temperature), humidity sensor components, pressure sensor components (e.g., barometer), acoustic sensor components (e.g., one or more microphones that detect background noise), proximity sensor components (e.g., infrared sensors that detect nearby objects), gas sensors (e.g., gas detection sensors to detection concentrations of hazardous gases for safety or to measure pollutants in the atmosphere), or other components that may provide indications, measurements, or signals corresponding to a surrounding physical environment. The position components 938 may include location sensor components (e.g., a GPS receiver component), altitude sensor components (e.g., altimeters or barometers that detect air pressure from which altitude may be derived), orientation sensor components (e.g., magnetometers), and the like.

Communication may be implemented using a wide variety of technologies. The I/O components 918 may include communication components 940 operable to couple the machine 900 to a network 937 or devices 929 via coupling 924 and coupling 922, respectively. For example, the communication components 940 may include a network interface component or other suitable device to interface with the network 937. In further examples, communication components 940 may include wired communication components, wireless communication components, cellular communication components, near field communication (NFC) components. Bluetooth® components (e.g., Bluetooth® Low Energy). Wi-Fi® components, and other communication components to provide communication via other modalities. The devices 929 may be another machine 900 or any of a wide variety of peripheral devices (e.g., a peripheral device coupled via a USB).

Moreover, the communication components 940 may detect identifiers or include components operable to detect identifiers. For example, the communication components 940 may include radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader components. NFC smart tag detection components, optical reader components (e.g., an optical sensor to detect one-dimensional bar codes such as Universal Product Code (UPC) bar code, multi-dimensional bar codes such as Quick Response (QR) code, Aztec code, Data Matrix, Dataglyph, MaxiCode, PDF417, Ultra Code, UCC RSS-2D bar code, and other optical codes), or acoustic detection components (e.g., microphones to identify tagged audio signals). In addition, a variety of information may be derived via the communication components 940, such as location via Internet Protocol (IP) geolocation, location via Wi-Fi® signal triangulation, location via detecting a NFC beacon signal that may indicate a particular location, and so forth.

Glossary

“CARRIER SIGNAL,” in this context, refers to any intangible medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying transitory or non-transitory instructions 910 for execution by the machine 900, and includes digital or analog communications signals or other intangible medium to facilitate communication of such instructions 910. Instructions 910 may be transmitted or received over the network 106 using a transitory or non-transitory transmission medium via a network interface device and using any one of a number of well-known transfer protocols.

“CLIENT DEVICE.” in this context, refers to any machine 900 that interfaces to a communications network 106 to obtain resources from one or more server systems or other client devices 102. A client device 102 may be, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, desktop computer, laptop. PDAs, smart phones, tablets, ultra books, netbooks, laptops, multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, game consoles, set-top boxes, or any other communication device that a user may use to access a network 106.

“COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK,” in this context, refers to one or more portions of a network 106 that may be an ad hoc network, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network (VPN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless WAN (WWAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), the Internet, a portion of the Internet, a portion of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a plain old telephone service (POTS) network, a cellular telephone network, a wireless network, a Wi-Fi® network, another type of network, or a combination of two or more such networks. For example, a network 106 or a portion of a network may include a wireless or cellular network and the coupling may be a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) connection, a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) connection, or other type of cellular or wireless coupling. In this example, the coupling may implement any of a variety of types of data transfer technology, such as Single Carrier Radio Transmission Technology (1×RTT). Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO) technology, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) technology, Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) technology, third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) including 3G, fourth generation wireless (4G) networks, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard, others defined by various standard setting organizations, other long range protocols, or other data transfer technology.

“EPHEMERAL MESSAGE,” in this context, refers to a message 300 that is accessible for a time-limited duration. An ephemeral message may be a text, an image, a video, and the like. The access time for the ephemeral message may be set by the message sender. Alternatively, the access time may be a default setting or a setting specified by the recipient. Regardless of the setting technique, the message 300 is transitory.

“MACHINE-READABLE MEDIUM,” in this context, refers to a component, device, or other tangible media able to store instructions 910 and data temporarily or permanently and may include, but is not limited to, random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), buffer memory, flash memory, optical media, magnetic media, cache memory, other types of storage (e.g., erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM)) and/or any suitable combination thereof. The term “machine-readable medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, or associated caches and servers) able to store instructions 910. The term “machine-readable medium” shall also be taken to include any medium, or combination of multiple media, that is capable of storing instructions 910 (e.g., code) for execution by a machine 900, such that the instructions 910, when executed by one or more processors 904 of the machine 900, cause the machine 900 to perform any one or more of the methodologies described herein. Accordingly, a “machine-readable medium” refers to a single storage apparatus or device, as well as “cloud-based” storage systems or storage networks that include multiple storage apparatus or devices. The term “machine-readable medium” excludes signals per se.

“COMPONENT,” in this context, refers to a device, physical entity, or logic having boundaries defined by function or subroutine calls, branch points. APIs, or other technologies that provide for the partitioning or modularization of particular processing or control functions. Components may be combined via their interfaces with other components to carry out a machine process. A component may be a packaged functional hardware unit designed for use with other components and a part of a program that usually performs a particular function of related functions. Components may constitute either software components (e.g., code embodied on a machine-readable medium) or hardware components. A “hardware component” is a tangible unit capable of performing certain operations and may be configured or arranged in a certain physical manner. In various example embodiments, one or more computer systems (e.g., a standalone computer system, a client computer system, or a server computer system) or one or more hardware components of a computer system (e.g., a processor or a group of processors) may be configured by software (e.g., an application or application portion) as a hardware component that operates to perform certain operations as described herein.

A hardware component may also be implemented mechanically, electronically, or any suitable combination thereof. For example, a hardware component may include dedicated circuitry or logic that is permanently configured to perform certain operations. A hardware component may be a special-purpose processor, such as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or an ASIC. A hardware component may also include programmable logic or circuitry that is temporarily configured by software to perform certain operations. For example, a hardware component may include software executed by a general-purpose processor 908 or other programmable processor. Once configured by such software, hardware components become specific machines (or specific components of a machine 900) uniquely tailored to perform the configured functions and are no longer general-purpose processors 908. It will be appreciated that the decision to implement a hardware component mechanically, in dedicated and permanently configured circuitry, or in temporarily configured circuitry (e.g., configured by software) may be driven by cost and time considerations. Accordingly, the phrase “hardware component” (or “hardware-implemented component”) should be understood to encompass a tangible entity, be that an entity that is physically constructed, permanently configured (e.g., hardwired), or temporarily configured (e.g., programmed) to operate in a certain manner or to perform certain operations described herein. Considering embodiments in which hardware components are temporarily configured (e.g., programmed), each of the hardware components need not be configured or instantiated at any one instance in time. For example, where a hardware component comprises a general-purpose processor 908 configured by software to become a special-purpose processor, the general-purpose processor 908 may be configured as respectively different special-purpose processors (e.g., comprising different hardware components) at different times. Software accordingly configures a particular processor 908 or processors 904, for example, to constitute a particular hardware component at one instance of time and to constitute a different hardware component at a different instance of time.

Hardware components can provide information to, and receive information from, other hardware components. Accordingly, the described hardware components may be regarded as being communicatively coupled. Where multiple hardware components exist contemporaneously, communications may be achieved through signal transmission (e.g., over appropriate circuits and buses) between or among two or more of the hardware components. In embodiments in which multiple hardware components are configured or instantiated at different times, communications between such hardware components may be achieved, for example, through the storage and retrieval of information in memory structures to which the multiple hardware components have access. For example, one hardware component may perform an operation and store the output of that operation in a memory device to which it is communicatively coupled. A further hardware component may then, at a later time, access the memory device to retrieve and process the stored output.

Hardware components may also initiate communications with input or output devices, and can operate on a resource (e.g., a collection of information). The various operations of example methods described herein may be performed, at least partially, by one or more processors 904 that are temporarily configured (e.g., by software) or permanently configured to perform the relevant operations. Whether temporarily or permanently configured, such processors 904 may constitute processor-implemented components that operate to perform one or more operations or functions described herein. As used herein, “processor-implemented component” refers to a hardware component implemented using one or more processors 904. Similarly, the methods described herein may be at least partially processor-implemented, with a particular processor 908 or processors 904 being an example of hardware. For example, at least some of the operations of a method may be performed by one or more processors 904 or processor-implemented components. Moreover, the one or more processors 904 may also operate to support performance of the relevant operations in a “cloud computing” environment or as a “software as a service” (SaaS). For example, at least some of the operations may be performed by a group of computers (as examples of machines 900 including processors 904), with these operations being accessible via a network 106 (e.g., the Internet) and via one or more appropriate interfaces (e.g., an API). The performance of certain of the operations may be distributed among the processors, not only residing within a single machine 900, but deployed across a number of machines. In some example embodiments, the processors 904 or processor-implemented components may be located in a single geographic location (e.g., within a home environment, an office environment, or a server farm). In other example embodiments, the processors 904 or processor-implemented components may be distributed across a number of geographic locations.

“PROCESSOR,” in this context, refers to any circuit or virtual circuit (a physical circuit emulated by logic executing on an actual processor 908) that manipulates data values according to control signals (e.g., “commands,” “op codes,” “machine code,” etc.) and which produces corresponding output signals that are applied to operate a machine 900. A processor 908 may, for example, be a CPU, a RISC processor, a CISC processor, a GPU, a DSP, an ASIC, a RFIC or any combination thereof. A processor 908 may further be a multi-core processor having two or more independent processors 904 (sometimes referred to as “cores”) that may execute instructions 910 contemporaneously.

“TIMESTAMP,” in this context, refers to a sequence of characters or encoded information identifying when a certain event occurred, for example giving date and time of day, sometimes accurate to a small fraction of a second.

Changes and modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. These and other changes or modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure, as expressed in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: establishing, by one or more processors of a computing device of a first user, a communication session between a plurality of users, the communication session being associated with a first feature of a plurality of features of a messaging application; automatically deleting a first set of messages exchanged in the communication session based on a default deletion policy of the first feature; changing the default deletion policy of the first feature to a second deletion policy, temporarily; automatically deleting a second set of messages exchanged in the communication session based on the second deletion policy instead of the default deletion policy; determining that a threshold amount of time has elapsed since the default deletion policy has been changed; and in response to determining that the threshold amount of time has elapsed since the default deletion policy has been changed, automatically deleting a third set of messages exchanged in the communication session following the second set of messages based on the default deletion policy instead of the second deletion policy.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the default deletion policy comprises: receiving input from the first user of the plurality of users that selects the second deletion policy; and in response to receiving the input from the first user, changing the default deletion policy to the second deletion policy for each of the plurality of users for which the communication session has been established.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising notifying a computing device of a second user of the plurality of users about select the default deletion policy in response to the input received from the first user.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the default deletion policy of the first feature is different form a default deletion policy of a second feature of the messaging application, and wherein changing the default deletion policy of the first feature comprises selecting the default deletion policy of the second feature as the second deletion policy.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a plurality of default deletion policies for each of the plurality of features, wherein: a first default deletion policy of the default deletion policies is configured to automatically delete a first message after a first threshold time period from when the first message was read, and wherein the first default deletion policy automatically deletes the first message after a second threshold time period from when the first message was received; a second default deletion policy of the default deletion policies is configured to automatically delete a second message in response to determining that the second message was read; and a third default deletion policy of the default deletion policies is configured to automatically delete a third message within the second threshold time period from when the third message was sent.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second threshold time period is longer than the first threshold time period.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the first threshold time period is 24 hours, and the second threshold time period is 31 days.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a plurality of default deletion policies for each of the plurality of features, wherein: a first default deletion policy of the default deletion policies is configured to automatically delete messages based on a receive timestamp of the messages and based on a read time of the messages; a second default deletion policy of the default deletion policies is configured to automatically delete messages based on the read time of the messages; and a third default deletion policy of the default deletion policies is configured to automatically delete messages based on a send timestamp of the messages.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first default deletion policy includes operations for sending read notifications when messages are read, and wherein the second default deletion policy includes operations for sending release messages to cause messages to be deleted by other client devices of other users of the plurality of users.
 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: initiating a timer when a first message of the first set of messages is read by a first user; determining when the timer reaches a threshold time period; and in response to determining that the timer has reached the threshold time period, automatically deleting the first message and one or more messages received prior to the first message.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the default deletion policy comprises: displaying a deletion policy menu with the plurality of features of the messaging application, the deletion policy menu identifying a default deletion policy of each of the plurality of features; receiving input from a first user of the plurality of users that selects a second feature of the plurality of features from the deletion policy menu; and in response to receiving the input from the first user, changing the default deletion policy to the second deletion policy corresponding to the default deletion policy of the second feature.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the default deletion policy comprises: retrieving, from a database, operations for implementing the second deletion policy; and replacing operations for performing the default deletion policy with the retrieved operations for implementing the second deletion policy.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the default deletion policy is changed in response to determining that a request to change the deletion policy was received from an administrator of the communication session.
 14. A system comprising: a processor configured to perform operations comprising: establishing, by a computing device of a first user, a communication session between a plurality of users, the communication session being associated with a first feature of a plurality of features of a messaging application; automatically deleting a first set of messages exchanged in the communication session based on a default deletion policy of the first feature; changing the default deletion policy of the first feature to a second deletion policy temporarily; automatically deleting a second set of messages exchanged in the communication session based on the second deletion policy instead of the default deletion policy; determining that a threshold amount of time has elapsed since the default deletion policy has been changed; and in response to determining that the threshold amount of time has elapsed since the default deletion policy has been changed, automatically deleting a third set of messages exchanged in the communication session following the second set of messages based on the default deletion policy instead of the second deletion policy.
 15. The system of claim 14, further comprising operations for: displaying a deletion policy menu with the plurality of features of the messaging application, the deletion policy menu identifying a default deletion policy of each of the plurality of features; receiving input from a first user of the plurality of users that selects a second feature of the plurality of features from the deletion policy menu; and in response to receiving the input from the first user, changing the default deletion policy to the second deletion policy corresponding to the default deletion policy of the second feature.
 16. The system of claim 14, wherein changing the default deletion policy comprises operations for: receiving input from the first user of the plurality of users that selects the second deletion policy; and in response to receiving the input from the first user, changing the default deletion policy to the second deletion policy for each of the plurality of users for which the communication session has been established.
 17. The system of claim 16, further comprising operations for notifying a computing device of a second user of the plurality of users about the change to the default deletion policy in response to the input received from the first user.
 18. The system of claim 14, wherein the default deletion policy of the first feature is different form a default deletion policy of a second feature of the messaging application, and wherein changing the default deletion policy of the first feature comprises operations for selecting the default deletion policy of the second feature as the second deletion policy.
 19. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium that includes instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising: establishing, by a computing device, a communication session between a plurality of users, the communication session being associated with a first feature of a plurality of features of a messaging application; automatically deleting a first set of messages exchanged in the communication session based on a default deletion policy of the first feature; changing the default deletion policy of the first feature to a second deletion policy temporarily; automatically deleting a second set of messages exchanged in the communication session based on the second deletion policy instead of the default deletion policy; determining that a threshold amount of time has elapsed since the default deletion policy has been changed; and in response to determining that the threshold amount of time has elapsed since the default deletion policy has been changed, automatically deleting a third set of messages exchanged in the communication session following the second set of messages based on the default deletion policy instead of the second deletion policy.
 20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise: displaying a deletion policy menu with the plurality of features of the messaging application, the deletion policy menu identifying a default deletion policy of each of the plurality of features; receiving input from a first user of the plurality of users that selects a second feature of the plurality of features from the deletion policy menu; and in response to receiving the input from the first user, changing the default deletion policy to the second deletion policy corresponding to the default deletion policy of the second feature. 